Improvement in low-water indicators



einen sans alwt (tithe.

GEORGE M. HOPKINS AND JOHN A.' STRAIGHT, OE ALBION, NEW

YORK.

Lette/rs Patent No. 94,29, dated August 31, 1869 `antetlttted August 17, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN vLOW-WATER INDICATORS.

Mins- The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same. I

To all whom it 'may concern Be it known that we, GEORGE M. HOPKINS and JOHN A. STRAIGHT, both of the village of Albion, in the county of Orleans, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement; in Low-Tater Indicators for Boilers; and we do hereby declare that the following -is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-.-

Figure 1 is a sectional view.

Figure 2 shows the wrench. Q, and the manner of attaching the whistle N.

Figure 3 represents the valve G, as retained by a fusible screw, S.

Figure 4 represents the valve G, as being retained by th'e wedge or pin T. I Figure 5 represents the valve as being held to its place by a block of fusible metal placed above the valve, or under the screw V.

The nature of this inventionconsists in providing an apparatus, which is to he connected with aboiler, at a given line, which shall alarm whenever the water in the boiler passes below said line, the alarm being caused by the melting of a fusible nut, which retains the valve to its seat.

We will proceed to describe our invention.

1u the accompanying drawings, (see fig. 1)-

A is a pipe, which is inserted in the boiler at the' line at which an' alarm is desired.

B is a pipe extending upward from the pipe A, having a stop-cock, C, at its upper end.

D is a short pipe, which is screwed into the upper end of the stop-cock C, and in which-is a cross-piece, E, which holds the screw F in an upright position in the centre of the pipe l).

G is a valve, which is seated on the end of the pipe D, and is provided with a lead rim or packing, H, underneath it.

I is a screw, projecting downward from the valve G.

J is a stem or spindle, extending upward from v"the valve G, through the external case or globe K.

'L is a nut or thimble, which made of fusible mtal, and which is furnished with a thread upon its inner surface, which shall correspond with the thread upon the screws I and l?.

K is a case attached to the pipe D, and containing the valve G, and itsl accompanying paits, and having on opposite sides of a collar upon its upper surface the pins m fm. I

N is a wlistle, which sux-mounts the case K, and is fastened to it. '10 attach the whistle N to the caseK, the whistle is placed so that the slots o c shall be directly over the pins 'm m, when,'by pressing downward, the pins pass into the slots, and then, by turning the whistle, the pins pass into the recess, and the whistle is firmly fastened.

P -is a gaugecock,iuse1ted in the end of the pipe A.-

Q is a wrench or hasp, one end of which is attached to the stop-cock C, and the other end of which is provided with an opening, which passes over an eye, R, which projects from the case K. h v

The apparatus is connected with the boiler, justy above the line at which an alarm is desired.

The Operation is as follows:

As long as the water in the boiler covers the end of the tube A, the water in the indicator will remain com# paiatively cool. lVhen the water drops below the end of the tube A, the water passes out of the indicator,

and the steam enters. The temperature being thereby increased, the fusible-metal uutyL is melted, andthe pressure of the steam raises' the valve G, permitting the escape of the steam through the whistle N, causing an alarm.

After a sufficient alarm has been given, the stop,-A

cock C is closed, when the whistle may be taken ofi by turning it so that the pins m m shall pass from the recess into the slots o o, and raisingit in the direction of the slots.

The case K being open, the valve G is taken out, i and upon the projecting screw I is screwed a fusiblev The gauge-cock I is used as a gauge-cock, and also I to blow out any sediment that may have collected in the pipe A..

The wrench Q is used to turn the stop-cock C, and when it is passed over the eye 1t, it may be locked, if desired.

1f the devices shown in iigs. 3, 4, and 5, are used, the operation is much the same as in iig. 1, the fusible metal melting and releasing the valve G.

i What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure 1. The combination and arrangement of pipe D, valve G, fusible plng'L,'rod F,'stopcock C, and pipe B, substantially as above set forth.

2.' The combination and arrangement of the fusiblemet-al nut L, valve G, vand lead packing H, as shown and described.

3. The gauge-cock P, in combination with the above devices, as set forth.

4. The combination and arrangement of the wrench Q, stop-cock C, and accompanying devices, as shown y anddescribed. 

